Swimming-tank.



R. G. LARSBN @L W. s. MORRBLL.

SWIMMING TANK.

APBLIOATION FILED MAY 19,1913.

1,097,242. Patented May19, 1914.

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ROBERT G. LARSEN, 0F BOSTON, AND WILLIAM MORRELL, 0F MELROSE, MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNORS T0 RCE.v KEITH THEATRE; C`OMPANY-OF BOSTON, A CORPORA- TION-OF MASSACHUSETTS;

SWIMMIN (ir-TAN K.

Application led May 19, 1913. Serial No. 768,458.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, ROBERT Gr. LARsnN and lVrLnrAM S. Monnnnn, subjects of Great Britain, and residents, respectively, ofBoston, in the county of Suffolk, andMelrose, in the county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an improve rnient in Swimming-Tanks, of which the fol-V lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in swimming tanks especially adapted for use in connection wit-h a theatrical stage where* by aperformer may dive into the tank and swim about and perform' various feats in the water and then disappear and subsequently reappear on the stage Vin the same or another costume; or may enter the tank unobserved and suddenly appear in the tank in view of the audience.

The invention consists in the combination with a stage and masking at the side thereof, of a tank arranged beneath the stage licor having an opening at the top adapted to be covered by a removable portion of the stage floor and having a conduit leading from one end of it which extends outward and upward and terminates at or near the stage Hoor behind the masking at which point the stage floor has another removable portion.V The swimmer may dive into the tank from the stage floor in full view of the audience, and swim about and perform various feats in the water and then swim under water into the conduit leading from the tank and emerge from the outlet of said conduit behind the masking, whereupon lie may subsequently reappear before the audience with or without a. change of costume, or he may enter the conduitbehind the masking, and swim under water into the tank into the view of the audience. Before the swimmer dives into the tank and also after he has disappeared and while the audience is waiting for his reappearance, it is desirable to supply something to which the attention of the audience will be directed, and herein, a fountain is provided upon which brilliantly colored rays of light may be projected, the jet or jets of water being projected upward to a considerable-height. The nozzle and supply-pipe of said fountain are or may be movably supported whereby they may be moved into and out of position for operation. t

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical secplace, but the invention is not limited` to this type.

12 represents the iioor of a theatrical stage having aremovable portion 14, andy 15 a masking of any suitable construct-ion which is arranged at the side of the stage. i

18 represents the wall of a tank-and 20 v Patented May 19, 1914. y

the bottom thereof, said tank being usually arranged beneath the stage floor. Said tank may be of anyrsizel and shape, although here shown as oval, and of sufficient depth to enable a swimmer to swim about freely therein.` The wall and bottom of the tank may be composed of pieces of wood, with the exception of one end-portion of the wall, which latter is formed of a metallic plate 22, one or more as may be required, having a hole through it near the bottom of ample size to enable a swimmer to pass through it, and said parts are secured together by metallic straps or bands of any suitable construction and in any suitable manner. Atthe hole in the plate 22 a conduit 26 is connected in a water-tight manner, which conduit is usually of cylindrical form. rllhis extends outward and upward andterminates at the stage floor behind the masking 16, at which point a portion of the stage floor 17 is made removable. Said conduit may be composed of pipe-sectioiis secured together. As the conduit is usually quite long and heavy it is necessary to support it, and, as here shown, it has outstanding lugs 27, to receive bolts 28, passing through' cross-bars 29, which are stationarily supported.

rlhe removable portions 14 and 17 of the 'stage floor having been removed, the top of audience, will dive into the tank and subsequentlyswim under water into the conduit and emerge therefrom back of the masking.

and subsequently reappear on Vthe stage, or

The fountain which is employed comprises a nozzle 30, from which jets of water issue, and a supply-pipe 32 connect-ed to said nozzle. Said pipe extends through a stuingbox arranged in the wall of the tank, and is slidably supported in said box, so that the nozzle may be moved to a position at the end of the tank, as represented by dotted lines Fig. 2. The supply-pipe 32 may have an upwardly extended portion at itsl inner end and a downwardly extended portion at its outer end, and said pipe may be given a quarter turn to submerge the nozzle, if desired, the position ot' the nozzleY being ndicated by the position of the angularly formed portion at the outer end of the pipe. The supply-pipe usually will be connected at its outer end with a flexible hose 34, which admits of a sliding andV also a rotary movement thereof.

Ne claim:-

1. The combination with a theatrical stage having a masking and a swimming-tank in connect-ion with the stage arranged in front of the auditorium, and having a large conduit leading from it, which terminates behind t-he masking, through' which a swimmer may pass, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a theatrical stageV having a masking and having portions of its floor removable, respectively, in front of the auditorium and behind the masking, and

a swimming-tank arranged beneath the stage floorin front of the auditorium having a large conduit leading from it which extends outward and upward and terminates at the stage floor behind the masking, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our naines to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT G. LARSEN. v WILLIAM S. MORRELL. Witnesses:

Il. B. Davis, B. J. Norns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. C. 

